Comparison

Speech Central vs Text to Voice

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Speech Central

This app transforms text from various documents and web pages into speech, offering a distraction-free reading experience. It supports numerous file formats and provides customizable voices, including offline and AI options. Designed for productivity and accessibility, it syncs across Apple devices and offers study tools.

Highlights
  • Optimized PDF & Web Reading
  • Broad Document Support (PDF, EPUB, DOCX)
  • Offline and Cloud AI Voices
  • Cross-device Sync
  • CarPlay & Apple Watch Support
  • Accessibility Profiles
  • Annotation and Export Tools
Features
Read full description

Speech Central has been built for focused, serious reading since 2014. It works across PDFs, web articles, books, and documents. Designed for productivity and accessibility, it combines powerful controls, deep customization, and seamless integration across Apple devices. No subscription. A one-time upgrade unlocks unlimited use. Free access is available for blind users with VoiceOver and for schools deploying the app through Apple School Manager. READING WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS Optimized PDF & Web Reading • Accurate reading order and navigation • Optional cleanup to reduce distractions such as headers, footnotes, citations, and links • RSS support and easy sharing from Safari and other apps Broad Document Support • PDF (including scanned PDFs with two-column layout) • EPUB • Word (.docx) • PowerPoint (.pptx) • OpenOffice formats • HTML, TXT, RTF, Markdown, and more VOICES: OFFLINE AND CLOUD AI • Use high-quality Apple system voices offline • Supports compatible system-wide voices from third-party apps, including offline neural voices from Piper - Neural TTS and ToBe SAID (Pocket TTS) apps • Connect cloud AI voices (OpenAI-compatible APIs, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, xAI) using your own API keys • Proprietary enhancement layer improves realism and streaming playback • Optional AI summarization tools help you review content more efficiently BUILT FOR THE APPLE ECOSYSTEM • Sync reading position and playlists across iPhone, iPad, and Mac • CarPlay support for listening and control in your vehicle • Independent Apple Watch app — listen without your iPhone nearby • Optional Health integration to track mindful listening time ACCESSIBILITY FIRST • Dedicated profiles for ADHD, dyslexia, and low vision • Interface and reading behavior adapt for reduced distraction and improved comprehension • Fully accessible with VoiceOver STUDY & KNOWLEDGE TOOLS • Annotate while reading • Export annotated text to .docx • Export text to audio files for offline listening PRIVACY BY DESIGN • No ads • No tracking • No usage analytics WHO USES SPEECH CENTRAL • Students and researchers • Professionals converting reading into listening time • Users who rely on assistive reading tools • Anyone who prefers distraction-reduced, hands-free reading Notes: - Free version limited by the number of daily articles; unlimited access available with Pro upgrade. - Some features require the latest OS version. - License is valid only on iOS/watchOS; separate licenses required for other platforms. - DRM-protected books (e.g. Kindle) are incompatible. - AI features may occasionally perform unexpectedly.

About

Text to Voice

Instantly convert any text into speech with this app. Listen to books, study materials, or religious texts on the go. Customize reading speed and voice tone, and even export audio files.

Highlights
  • Text to speech conversion
  • Multiple voice options
  • Adjustable reading speed and tone
  • PDF, TXT, and image text recognition
  • Export audio to WAV
  • Reading history
  • Background playback
Features
Read full description

Using the Text Reader application, you can instantly convert any text into speech in a simple and fast way. Therefore, you can listen to an excerpt from a book, a study booklet or a verse from the Bible on the way to work, while taking a walk or preparing for a test. The Text Reader application uses innovative algorithms and features to provide you with the following functionalities: - Reading text in the device's default language, providing multiple voices. - Parameters such as text reading speed and narration tone of voice can be modified. - Text recognition in PDF, TXT and image files (PNG, JPG, etc.). - Export the text in WAV audio to be shared or listened to at a later time - The text read is saved in a list, which serves as a reading history. - You can minimize the app while listening to the reading. A player is available so you can control the audio while the app is minimized. - Pause or resume content using wired or Bluetooth headset buttons. - The application works without the need for an Internet connection! We hope this application helps you and improves your productivity. Have a good time!

Screenshots

Speech Central4 screens
Text to Voice4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Speech Central at none against Text to Voice's shown. Speech Central also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (1.6K vs 11). Text to Voice's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Speech Central sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Text to Voice sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Text to Voice holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Speech Central has 1.6K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of Speech Central's written reviews are positive against 50% of Text to Voice's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Speech Central ships an update weekly, Text to Voice every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and August 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Speech Central versus Text to Voice: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpeech CentralText to Voice
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.6K ratings)5.0 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.6% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.6K — better11
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB86 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLabsiiLuiz Santos

Customer experience

Speech Central

All ratings1,550 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral4.3%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews467 reviews
Positive69.6%
Neutral9.4%
Negative21.0%

Text to Voice

All ratings11 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Speech Central

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Crashes when changing advanced settings
  • Inconsistent behavior when importing documents
  • Fails to recognize some file formats
  • Playback issues with high-speed mode
  • Repeating chapters unexpectedly
Show 1 more
  • Scrolling issues with long documents

Requested features

8 requests
  • Add more natural-sounding voices
  • Improve chapter/section navigation
  • Allow custom pronunciation of words
  • Add support for more languages
  • Integrate with Bookshare library
Show 3 more
  • Improve PDF formatting and layout
  • Add more customization options
  • Improve sync between devices

Text to Voice

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Speech Central

One-time1
  • Speech Central Pro$9.99
1 purchases

Text to Voice

One-time1
  • Premium version$6.99

Questions

Is Speech Central free?
Speech Central is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Text to Voice free?
Text to Voice is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Speech Central or Text to Voice?
Text to Voice is rated higher. Speech Central averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Text to Voice averages 5.0 from 11 ratings.
Do Speech Central or Text to Voice have ads?
Text to Voice shows ads; Speech Central does not.
Which is updated more often, Speech Central or Text to Voice?
Speech Central ships an update weekly, and Text to Voice every 5 months. Most recently, Speech Central was updated on September 19, 2026 and Text to Voice on August 31, 2026.

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